Signs, symptoms of a stroke

Pen Bay Healthcare Stroke Program coordinator Eileen Hawkins will lead a workshop Thursday, May 8 on the signs and symptoms of a stroke.

Rockport — Stroke is the number four cause of death in this country and the leading cause of adult disability.

As part of National Stroke Awareness Month, Pen Bay Healthcare’s Stroke Center will present a free educational program Thursday, May 8, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Picker Family Resource Center.

This presentation by Stroke Program coordinator Eileen Hawkins will cover warning signs and risk factors for stroke, as well as different kinds of stroke, current treatments and what people can do to prevent stroke from happening. Please call to register at 596-8950.

Stroke claims more than 137,000 lives each year and accounts for one of every 18 deaths in this country. Stroke warning signs can be subtle and may include:

sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body;

sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding;

sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes;

sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination;

sudden severe headache with no known cause.

Missing the warning signs of stroke may put one in danger in a matter of minutes. Call 911 immediately if a person is seen having these symptoms. Stroke is a medical emergency. Treatments are available for the most common type of stroke when a person seeks immediate medical attention

The Primary Stroke Center at Pen Bay Medical Center is one of four certified Primary Care Stroke Centers in Maine. It uses a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach to collaborative treatment and healing with a patient-centered focus on stroke detection and management, from emergency medical services through rehabilitation. Learn more about the Primary Stroke Center at penbayhealthcare.org/centers.